Quick action switch



Sept. 14, 1948. R, J, DOMONKAS 2,449,109

QUICK ACTION SWITCH Filed Feb. 5, 1946 2.51'i03tS-Sh86t 1 4 f j.- 2 nmm. j a WWW/ n @I ,E v v 4 A l u m M Sept. 14, 1948. n; J. DoMoNKAs 2,4491109 QUICK ACTION S'ITCH Filed Feb. 5. 1946 y 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 ZV/Even for Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE anales l SQUIcx Ac'rlon swrrcn melma J. mmm, Bai-benen, ohio Application February 5, 194.6, Serial No. 645,587

This invention relates to switches, and more particularly to switches having snap action.

A main object oi' the invention is to provide a novel and improved switch structure of very simple 'construction and which is positive in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved switch structure of the snap action type wherein magnets are employed to provide a clean break-away from one position of the switch arm and a quick closure of the switch contacts for the other position of Vsaid switch arm, the structure being inexpensive to'manufacture and being very reliable in performance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a switch structure constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the switch structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view of the inner end portion of the switch arm emv ployed in the structure of Figure `l. l

Figure'5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified switch structure according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectionalview taken on line 'I-I of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view of the inner end portion of the switch arm employed in the structure of Figure 5.

Snap switches for electric lighting and other circuits customarily employ springs to provide the snap action. These springs become fatigued after a period of use and result in ineffective snap action for the switch arm. This reduces the positiveness of the switch action and tends to cause destructive arcing between the stationary contacts and the contacts carried by the switch arm during the operation of the switch. The present invention aims to eliminate such deterioration in snap action by eliminating the use oi.' springs and employing instead permanent magnet members to provide a clean break-away for the switch arm when moved from one position and rapid motion toward its second position, as is highly desirable in snap action switches.

Referring to the drawings, and more particu- 2 claims. (c1. zoe-154)-.

larly to Figures 1 to 4, illustrating a first embodiment of my invention, Il designates a conventional switch plate to which is secured a housing I2. Parts il. and I2 may be made of plastic or other suitable insulating material. Pivotally mounted on a transverse pin I3 in housing I2 is a switch arm Il of plastic or the like, having ahead portion I5 which protrudes through a suitable rectangular opening I8 formed in plate il, for manual actuation of the switch arm. Secured rigidly in switch arm I4 and extending above and below said switch arm is a permanent magnet bar I1 preferably of Alnico or similar strongly magnetized material.' Secured in the top Wall of housing I2 and positioned so as to cooperate with the upper pole of magnet bar I1 is a iirst stationary magnetic member I8 of soft iron or the like.

Positioned inthe lower wall of housing I2 and arranged to cooperate with the lower pole of bar `II Vwhen switch arm I4 is in its lower position is a second magnetic member i9, also of soft iron'or the like. It may be readily seen that as switch arm |44 is rotated from its upper position to its lower position or vice versa, a well defined snap action is obtained, a clean and sharp break-away being aiorded at the magnet pole which is being moved away from its stationary magnetic member, caused by the sudden collapse of the magnetic flux at that pole, and a rapid movement of the other pole toward its magnetic member being obtained, caused by the building up of the magnetic ux as said other pole approaches its magnetic member.

The inner endof switch arm I4 is formed with a cavity 20 which contains a quantity of mercury 2|; A pair of contacts '22, 22 are provided in the side walls of cavity 20, said contacts being connected by ilexible conductors 23, 23 to terminals 24, 24 secured in the side walls of housing I2 and adapted to be connected to the circuit to be controlled.

cavity 2li and bridges the contact elements 22,

22 thereby closing the circuit. Since a very effective snapaction is obtained by the cooperation of magnet bar Il with its magnetic members I8 and I9, there will be a minimum of arclng, and

the snap action will not deteriorate during the l said bar intermediate said `means and one end lii'e of the switch.

Referring to lFigures 5 to 8, a modicetion 0f to and to said means, an a pair of xed elements the Switch stlnetilre-ls disclosed Whleh employs ,adapted for magnetic attraction carried by said mechanical eOIitaCt members instead f mereuryl 5 support, one of said elements being positioned to In thisnmodatln the Switch arm I4' Callrles attract one pole 0f said magnet and said other lat its inner end a transversely extending n ietal element -being positioned to attract the other contact bei' 25f0rlned et its ends With dependpole of said magnet, whereby to actuate said bar ins contact lingers 28. 26.; Secured in the bOtwith a snap action when the; same is manually `\t0m wall 0f lhellsingl l2' areJ a pair 0f @Onteet 10 moved on said means pastadead center.

of said bar and extendi g at right angles thereelements 2,1. 2l arranged t0 be engaged respee- 2. In a. manually operated snap switch, la tively by the Contact ngel'S When the inswitch bal". a support' means extending at .ner end 0i switch erm i4 is jm its lower Position angles to said bar intermediate its ends and piv- The external circuit connections are made to @any manned-,ing Said bar 1;@ sam support, one

terminals 29, 28: integrally enneeted respectively 15 end of said bar providing an actuating handle, a t0 the Contact elements 2l. 21. When the inner contact movable with said bar and carried by end of. switch arm I4' is in its upper position the the other end of said bar, spaced contacts xed circuit is open. When the switch arm is roto said support and adapted to be bridged by v tated S0 that the inner end theleOf is in its 10W- said first contact when said bar is pivoted in one ered. pOSitiOll, Contact elements 27, 21 aire bridged 20` direction, a, permanent han magnet xed t0 said :by bar 2l and the circuit is closed. bar intermediate said means and one end, of said In the embodiment of Figures 5 /to 8, positive bar and extending at right angles thereto and snep eCtiOn is provided by magnet bei Il and to said means, and a pair of fixed elements adapt- COOPerating magnetic members I8 and I9 as in ed for magnetic attraction carried by said supthe embodiment of Figures 1 to 4- However te 25 port, one of said elements being positioned to allow for wear at contact elements 21, 21, a small 1m-aat, one pole of said magnet and said other airgap Should be provided between the lOWel element being positioned to attract the other pole pole of magnet bar I1 and lower .magnetic mem of said magnet, whereby to actuate said bar with ber I9 when the switch arm/is in the 0n pOSia snap action when the same is manually moved tion. on said means past a dead center, one of said While certain specific embodiments 0f a snap 1 elements being operative to hold said bar in a action switch structurevhavefbeen disclosed in Contact bridging position, and said last-named the foregoinmdeseriptien. it Will be understood element being positioned to provide an air gap that various/f'modifications withir the spirit of between the same and the attracted pole of said the invention may occur to those skilled in the magnet when said contacts are bridged.

art. Therefore it is intended that no limita-r RICHARD J. DOMONKAS. tionsA be placed on thed invention other than as i deilned by the scope of the appended claims, t l' REFERENCES CITED y What is claimed is: J' The following kreferences are of record in the 1. In a manually operated snap switch, an 40 me of this patent;

switch bar, a. support, means extending at right angles to said bar intermediate its ends and piv- UNITED STATES PATENTS otally connecting said bar to said support, one Number Name Date end of said bar providing an actuating handle, 541,227 Elieson June 18, 1895 a contact movable with said bar and carried by 692,217 Sundh Jan.28, 1902 the other end of said bar, spaced contacts xed 1,753,945` Replogle Apr. 8, 1930 to said-support and adapted to be bridged by A 1.876.044 Devis 1 Sept. 6. 1932 said first contact when said bar` is pivoted in 1373567 Both' Sept 20 1932 one direction. a permanent -bar magnet ixed to 1'976'954 Mantz Oct. 16, 1931i` 

